The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-08-28
THE MAcuEY PLANT.


and Medicine to the MexIcans-
The cactus grows wild in Mexico in
almost endless forms of growth, while
in some localities certain kinds are
cultivated for the profit to be derived
through their production The Mag
uey, a plant of the cactus family. is
one of the most valuable of the pro-
ducts of Mexico, and the uses to which
it is put by these people seem almost
infinite in variety. A fugitive para
graph cut from a newspaper furnishes
a partial list: 1.-The maguey seems
special gift Of nature to supply the
simple wants Of the native. Its coarse
cloth makes his first, last and only gar
ment, and its strong rope ties down
his coffin lid. The fiber of the leaf.
beaten and spun. forms fine and
beautiful thread, glossy as silk in text
ure, which resembles linen when
woven into fabrics. 1t is manufactured
into coarse cloth, also into paper,
bagging, sail-cloth, sacking. etc The
rope made from it is called ma
nilla hemp, and is of uncommon
strength and excellence. Cut into
coarse straws, it forms the brooms
and whitewash brushes of the country,
and, as substitute for bristles, it is
made into scrub-brooms, dusting-
brushes and the tiny brooms which
take the place of combs among the
poorer people. Beautiful fancy bas-
kets, money bags, purses. sachels, and
thousand toys, trinkets and orna-
ments are woven from its fiber. II
your horse has a sprain or your donkey
bruise, maguey leaf. pounded and
bound upon the injured member. is a
certain cure. The pointed thorns,
which terminate the gigantic leaves
are strong as nails and sharp as needles,
and to this day, as in primitive times,
they serve for nails, needles and pins.
Upon paper made of maguey fiber the
early Mexicans painted their picture
histories and hieroglyphic figures.
Every Mexican estate, in certain dis
tricts, cultivates more or less maguey.
The mighty plants answer for hedges
and mark the boundaries of ranches,
two rows-with their enormous leaves
and bayonet-likc Understanding an
impenetrable fence
In short, the maguey is food, drink.
clothing, medicine and writing ma
terial for the Mexican. 1t has well
been called "a miracle of nature" and
it is probable that she has never. in
any other way, so lavishly provided
in such a convenient form, any thing
from which man can produce SO many
things to sustain life and add to hi,
comfort and convenience ut home.
One species of the maguey plant
furnishes drink known rs "pulque, y
which, before fermentation takes place
is not Intoxicating and not unpleasan
in taste. 1t presents milky appear
ance, and is slightly tart and pungent
Fermentation occurs in few day.
after production, and pulque then, lik,
''harl cider" will produce intoxica
ton if taken in sufficient quantity
In some localities this drink is quite a
extensively used in this country as j
the malt-beer now so largely consumed
throughout the United States. In tn
City of Mexico, where the water is o
poor quality, pulque is almost univer
sally used, many persons discardin!
entirely the water furnished by tn,
city. and using the unfermented pulqu
solely as a beverage.
One of the richest citizens of tn
Mexican capital realized his immens
fortune from the sale of pulque, bein,
the proprietor of several retail shops il
various quarters of the city. His in
come is estimated at over $50, 900 pc
annum. When it is known that on a
estate of one thousand acres of tn
cheapest quality of land millio
plants may be constantly flourishing i
|, their several stages of growth, an
that during the entire time there wi
be sufficient number of matured ms
gueys to furnish about four thousan
gallons Of pulque daily, it will be quit
apparent that there is good margi
for profit in the production of this be'
erage, which is worth about eigf
cents gallon as it flows from tn
, plant.
1t is said that over forty thousan
, gallons of pulque are sold and drum
, in the City of Mexico daily. From tn
duty charged for the privilege {
bringing this liquor within the co
, porate limits, the municipal treasur
derives an income amounting to ST., 0(
| II